RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 18: Paula Reto of South Africa and her caddie Deon Flowers on the 18th green during the second round of the Women's Individual Stroke Play golf on day 13 of the Rio Olympics at the Olympic Golf Course on August 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Paula Reto flew the South African flag high on Friday with a round of 68 on day three of the Women’s Olympic Golf Tournament.

The 26-year-old from Cape Town birdied the 18th to reach four under par and shared eighth place with one round to play before the medal ceremony.

World number one Lydia Ko included a hole in one to her round 65, which boosted the Kiwi into a share of second alongside American Gerina Piller, two shots behind Korean Inbee Park, who led on 11 under par.

‘I’m happy with the way I played today and I made my first‑ever hole‑in‑one,’ said Ko. ‘To do that at the Olympics, it doesn’t get any better than that. But to put myself back into good position going into tomorrow I think was a job well done going forward.’

Reto was seven shots off the pace, courtesy of a three under par round that included five birdies and two bogeys. A low round final round could make all the difference for the Capetonian as she looks to finish strong in golf’s return to the Olympics.